In early 2004, I travelled to Bangladesh, at the invitation of a friend who‚s family lives in downtown Dhaka. The family lives on Par Gandaria, in one of the poorer neighborhoods of Dhaka. My experiences there have inspired me to attempt an “art-intervention” on this narrow street.

Bengali's are fond of bright colour, you see it in their dress, their homes, even in their food. In contrast, the streets of Dhaka are dark and dirty. Pollution coats the streets in brown and grey, darkening buildings and streaking windows with carbon and dust.

Life is lived on the streets, as in most tropical countries and children play, women wash clothes and perform other domestic functions, and shops sell goods out doors. In an attempt to bring some colour to the street, and to make obvious the unification of home-life and street-life, I propose painting long stretches of the Par Gandaria with bright colours. I will deliberately avoid symbols or shapes, relying only on colour to achieve my results. This project is a modest attempt to make this one small neighborhood into a catalyst which should encourage people from all walks of life to engage themselves with Bangladesh. Bengalis get a colourful environment in
exchange.

My own experience in that beautiful land, among generous and friendly people, makes me want to share with others, and thereby, possibly attract attention, investment and tourism to a poor land. I also hope to entice other artists to do work in Bangladesh, eventually decorating Dhaka with projects from foreign artists and encouraging Bengali artists to create projects for urban spaces in other lands. Cultural interchange and awareness are the goal.

At a time of increased tensions worldwide, at this unfortunate time of fear and terrors, we all have a deep responsibility to foster dialogue and encourage engagement.

The Par Gandaria Street Colour Project is my attempt to invite others to do just that.